Successful Treatment for Hepatoblastoma in Trisomy 18: A Case Report.

Children with trisomy 18 tend to develop hepatoblastoma. Since the introduction of appropriate management for organ malfunction, individuals with trisomy 18 have come to have a longer life expectancy. However, the predisposition to hepatoblastoma becomes a significant issue for the quality of a case. Here, we present a rare multifocal hepatoblastoma involving predominantly Couinaud segments 5 and 7 in a 10-month-old boy with trisomy 18. Though the first-line cisplatin monotherapy resulted in unsatisfactory tumor shrinkage, the second-line neoadjuvant chemotherapy administrating irinotecan and vincristine gave rise to significant tumor reduction in volume, leading to the completion of partial resection of the liver without the microscopic residual disease. The patient has been free from recurrence for 44 months. Because anatomical right hepatectomy can cause circulatory instability, including acute onset of pulmonary hypertension in trisomy 18 patients, physicians should balance treatment benefits and potential adverse effects. Our successful experience utilizing a combination of efficacious and less cardiotoxic neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by the partial hepatectomy encourages physicians to treat a patient with trisomy 18 and tackle hepatoblastoma with a genetic background.

The common trisomy syndromes, their cardiac implications, and ethical considerations in care.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To review the incidence of congenital heart disease in the trisomies, highlight the history of cardiac surgery in trisomy 21 comparing it to the increase in cardiac surgery in trisomies 13 and 18, discuss ethical issues specific to trisomies 13 and 18, and suggest a pathway of shared decision-making in the management of congenital heart disease in trisomy 13 and 18, specifically congenital heart surgery. RECENT FINDINGS: Congenital heart disease is prevalent in the trisomies and the management of these defects, especially surgical intervention, has changed. In the late 20th century, survival after cardiac surgery in trisomy 21 vastly improved, significantly decreasing morbidity and mortality secondary to pulmonary hypertension. Similarly, procedures and surgeries have been performed with increasing frequency in trisomy 13 and 18 patients and concomitantly, survival in this patient population is increasing. Yet across the United States, the willingness to perform cardiac surgery in trisomy 13 and 18 is variable, and there is ethical controversy about the correct action to take. To address this concern, a shared decision-making approach with an informed parent(s) is advised. SUMMARY: As the care and management of congenital heart disease changed in trisomy 21, so too it has with trisomy 13 and 18. Physicians and parents should develop goal-directed treatment plans balancing the risk versus benefit and consider cardiac surgical repair if feasible and beneficial.

Management of Children with the Trisomy 18 and Trisomy 13 Syndromes: Is there a Shift in the Paradigm of Care?

OBJECTIVE: The conventional view toward the management of infants with the trisomy 18 and trisomy 13 syndromes has been to recommend pure comfort care and the avoidance of technological interventions. This commentary aims to address the recently raised question about whether there has been a shift in the paradigm of the management of infants with the two conditions. STUDY DESIGN: The study design includes narrative review of the literature. RESULTS: A body of opinion pieces and evidence has emerged indicating that there has been a recent increase in the administration of interventions, including ventilatory support and surgery, in the management of children with these syndromes. CONCLUSION: Based on the evidence in the literature, the author concludes that there has been a type of paradigm shift described by philosopher of science, Thomas Kuhn, in the treatment of infants with trisomy 18 and 13. More parents are being offered and choosing technological interventions, including cardiac surgery. Future investigation of the question whether intervention improves outcome, including the quality of life, is crucial in addressing the unanswered questions in this dialogue. KEY POINTS: · The conventional approach to the treatment of trisomy 18 and 13 has been to avoid interventions.. · There is a growing body of evidence that this traditional view of management is changing.. · Future investigation of whether intervention improves outcome is crucial in addressing the unanswered questions..

Implementation of a Perinatal Hospice Program.

BACKGROUND: In 2017, the Nebraska Unicameral passed legislative bill 506, which required physicians to inform patients carrying fetuses diagnosed with a life-limiting anomaly of the option to enroll in a comprehensive perinatal hospice program. The bill also required the Department of Health & Human Services to provide information about statewide hospice programs. Families enrolled in hospice programs are better prepared for the birth and death of their child. This large academic medical center was listed on the registry but did not have a formal perinatal hospice program. PURPOSE: Implementation of a comprehensive perinatal hospice program. METHODS: The program was designed and implemented, beginning with the formation of an interdisciplinary team. Guidelines were developed for program referral, care conferences, team communication, and family follow-up. The team was educated. Electronic record documentation and order set were implemented. A data collection process was developed to track referrals and critical data points. RESULTS: The perinatal hospice program has been accepting referrals but has not had any qualifying referrals. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The development of an evidence-based guideline for referral that can improve referral consistency. While trisomy 13 and 18 diagnosis was historically considered life-limiting, these families now have the option of full intervention and transfer for specialists. IMPLICATIONS FOR RESEARCH: Future research will include collecting data from patients who could have benefited from hospice, including infants who were born 20 to 22 weeks, or for maternal reasons. Future research will evaluate the experience after bereavement, the hospice team's experience, and the effectiveness of the referral process.

Perinatal Counseling Following a Diagnosis of Trisomy 13 or 18: Incorporating the Facts, Parental Values, and Maintaining Choices.

BACKGROUND: Families with a prenatal diagnosis of trisomy 13 or 18 are told many things, some true and some myths. They present with differing choices on how to proceed that may or may not be completely informed. PURPOSE: To provide the prenatal counselor with a review of the pertinent obstetrical and neonatal outcome data and ethical discussion to help them in supporting families with the correct information for counseling. METHODS/SEARCH STRATEGY: This article provides a review of the literature on facts and myths and provides reasonable outcome data to help families in decision making. FINDINGS/RESULTS: These disorders comprise a heterogeneous group regarding presentation, outcomes, and parental goals. The authors maintain that there needs to be balanced decision-making between parents and providers for the appropriate care for the woman and her infant. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Awareness of this literature can help ensure that prenatal and palliative care consultation incorporates the appropriate facts and parental values and in the end supports differing choices that can support the infant's interests.

Building trust and improving communication with parents of children with Trisomy 13 and 18: A mixed-methods study.

BACKGROUND: Trisomy 13 and trisomy 18 are common life-limiting conditions associated with major disabilities. Many parents have described conflictual relationships with clinicians, but positive and adverse experiences of families with healthcare providers have not been well described. AIM: (1) To investigate parental experiences with clinicians and (2) to provide practical recommendations and behaviors clinicians could emulate to avoid conflict. DESIGN: Participants were asked to describe their best and worse experiences, as well as supportive clinicians they met. The results were analyzed using mixed methods. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: Parents of children with trisomy 13 and 18 who were part of online social support networks. A total of 503 invitations were sent, and 332 parents completed the questionnaire about 272 children. RESULTS: The majority of parents (72%) had met a supportive clinician. When describing clinicians who changed their lives, the overarching theme, present in 88% of answers, was trust. Parents trusted clinicians when they felt he or she cared and valued their child, their family, and made them feel like good parents (69%), had appropriate knowledge (66%), and supported them and gave them realistic hope (42%). Many (42%) parents did not want to make-or be part of-life-and-death decisions. Parents gave specific examples of supportive behaviors that can be adopted by clinicians. Parents also described adverse experiences, generally leading to conflicts and lack of trust. CONCLUSION: Realistic and compassionate support of parents living with children with trisomy 13 and 18 is possible. Adversarial interactions that lead to distrust and conflicts can be avoided. Many supportive behaviors that inspire trust can be emulated.

Ethical issues about the paradigm shift in the treatment of children with trisomy 18.

Until recently, trisomy 18 was considered a disease incompatible with life, with a high percentage of electively terminated pregnancies. The usual behavior was denial of treatment. But some medical interventions have changed the survival of children. A search for articles published in the PubMed database on the latest medical decisions in newborns with trisomy 18 was done. Two main subjects were examined: (1) the chances of survival and (2) the perception of quality of life. Trisomy 18 is no longer considered a disease incompatible with life, and the discussion has shifted towards the type of treatment that is appropriate to initiate at birth. There are two medical attitudes towards these children: either palliative care or life-prolonging interventions. With medical intervention, the survival is as high as 23% at 5 years of age. Regarding the quality of life, all decision-makers emphasize the possibility of taking the child home. The physicians' perception is more pessimistic than that of the parents. Only a few children benefit from medical interventions.Conclusion: There is a rethinking of treatment behavior in children with trisomy 18. The possible quality of life achieved should be further investigated. It seems inappropriate to simply dismiss medical interventions.What is Known• Until recently, trisomy 18 was considered a disease incompatible with life. The most common behavior was abortion and denial of treatment.What is New• It is no longer considered a lethal disease. The type of medical intervention that is appropriate to perform is now being discussed. Selected children benefit from an interventionist approach.

Síndrome de Edwards con cardiopatía congénita de larga supervivencia: reporte de caso y revisión de literatura / Prolonged survival in Edwards syndrome with congenital heart disease: a case report and literature review

El síndrome de Edwards o trisomía 18 es una entidad compleja, con afectaciones en los sistemas musculoesquelético, craneofacial, cardiovascular y neurológico. Su genética es variada, presentándose tanto de manera completa como en mosaicismo. Es infrecuente que la supervivencia supere el primer año de vida. Su caracterización fenotípica no es patognomónica, por lo cual el cariotipo es fundamental para el diagnóstico prenatal por medio de amniocentesis y cordocentesis mediante técnica de hibridación fluorescente in situ. Se presenta el caso de una paciente de ocho años que ha sobrevivido con esta condición, a pesar de presentar tetralogía de Fallot acompañada de malformaciones cardíacas graves. El diagnóstico comenzó por ecografía de tamizaje prenatal a las 16 semanas y ecografía de detalle, con amniocentesis y cariotipo de líquido amniótico, con resultado 47 XX+18. Ha sido tratada por múltiples especialidades médicas, debido a complicaciones osteomusculares, articulares, neurológicas, metabólicas y cardiovasculares que han limitado su calidad de vida. El manejo de estos pacientes requiere un equipo médico multidisciplinario. La consejería a los padres debe incluir aspectos relativos a la sobrevida, complicaciones frecuentes y riesgo-beneficio a evaluar antes de someter al menor a intervenciones quirúrgicas complejas o correctivas.

Edwards syndrome or trisomy 18 is a complex entity that involves the musculoskeletal, craniofacial, cardiovascular, and neurological systems. Its genetics are varied, presenting both in a complete and mosaic type. Survival rarely exceeds the first year of life. Its phenotype characterization is not pathognomonic, so karyotype is essential for diagnosis, prenatally by amniocentesis and cordocentesis by FISH technique. We present the case of an eight-year-old girl who has survived with this condition despite presenting tetralogy of Fallot and serious cardiac malformations. Diagnosis began with prenatal screening ultrasound at 16 weeks and detailed ultrasound, with amniocentesis and amniotic fluid karyotype, with a result of 47 XX+18. She has been treated by multiple medical specialties, due to musculoskeletal, joint, neurological, metabolic, and cardiovascular complications that have limited her quality of life. The management of these patients requires a multidisciplinary medical team, and counseling for parents should include aspects related to survival, frequent complications, and risk-benefit to be evaluated before subjecting the minor to complex or corrective surgical interventions.

Experiences of children with trisomy 18 referred to pediatric palliative care services on two continents.

Children with trisomy 18 that survive beyond the neonatal period have multiple congenital anomalies, neurodevelopmental disability, and high mortality rates. The experience of children with trisomy 18 who receive pediatric palliative care services is largely unknown. We conducted a retrospective review of children with trisomy 18 receiving pediatric palliative care services at both Boston Children's Hospital, USA and Great Ormond Street Hospital, UK from January 1, 2004 to January 1, 2015. Fifty-eight children with trisomy 18 were referred to pediatric palliative care, 38 in the United Kingdom, 20 in the United States. Median age at referral was 19 days (2-89) in the United Kingdom, and 25 days (1-463) in the United States. Median length of time being followed by pediatric palliative care was 32 days (1-1,637) in the United Kingdom and 67 days (3-2,442) in the United States. The only significant difference in the two cohorts (p = .001) was in likelihood of receiving cardiac surgical intervention-37% in the United States, 0% the United Kingdom. Children with trisomy 18 receive pediatric palliative care services, with variable age at referral and for a variable length of time. Further research is needed to understand the experience of children with trisomy 18 and their families receiving pediatric palliative care services.

Treatment Decisions for Babies with Trisomy 13 and 18.

Many babies with trisomy 13 and 18 die in the first year of life. Survivors all have severe cognitive impairment. There has been a debate among both professionals and parents about whether it is appropriate to provide life-sustaining interventions to babies with these serious conditions. On one side of the debate are those who argue that there is no point in providing invasive, painful, and expensive procedures when the only outcomes are either early death or survival with severe cognitive impairment. Others suggest that, although mortality is high and cognitive impairment universal, babies with these conditions have an acceptable quality of life. In this paper, we will discuss both points of view. We will review the ways in which these conditions are portrayed in pediatrics textbooks and on social media sites that offer support to parents. We will then suggest an appropriate way to deal with clinical decisions for babies with these trisomies.

Transitions in Care for Infants with Trisomy 13 or 18.

Background and Objectives The scope of interventions offered to infants with trisomy 13 (T13) or trisomy 18 (T18) is increasing. We describe the spectrum of care provided, highlighting transitions in care for individual patients. Patients and Methods This is a single-center, retrospective cohort of infants with T13 or T18 born between 2004 and 2015. Initial care was classified as comfort care or intervention using prenatal counseling notes. Transitions in care were identified in the medical record. Results In this study, 25 infants were divided into two groups based on their care: neonates who experienced no transition in care and neonates who experienced at least one transition. Eleven neonates experienced no transition in care with 10 receiving comfort care. Fourteen neonates experienced at least one transition: three transitioned from comfort care to intervention and 11 from intervention to comfort care. The three initially provided comfort care were discharged home with hospice and readmitted. Among the 11 cases who transitioned from intervention to comfort care, 9 transitioned during the birth hospitalization, 6 had no prenatal suspicion for T13 or T18, and 5 experienced elective withdrawal of intensive care. Conclusion The spectrum of care for infants with T13 or T18 illustrates the need for individualized counseling that is on-going, goal directed, collaborative, and responsive.

Neonatal Hospital Course and Outcomes of Live-born Infants with Trisomy 18 at Two Tertiary Care Centers in the United States.

Objectives Trisomy 18 is presumed to be a lethal chromosomal abnormality; medical management of infants with this aneuploidy is controversial. Our objective was to describe our approach and experience with trisomy 18 infants. Study Design We reviewed the initial hospital course, management, and factors predicting discharge from the hospital from two large tertiary care neonatal intensive care units in the southern United States over 26 years. Results Of the 29 infants with trisomy 18, 21 (72%) died in the hospital and 8 (28%) were discharged home. 19 (66%) infants received mechanical ventilation and 10 (34%) received inotropic medications. Eight infants had critical congenital heart defects; only one survived to discharge. Three infants underwent major surgeries; one cardiac surgery, one tracheoesophageal fistula repair, and one myelomeningocele repair. Median length of hospital stay was 14 days (range, 0-78) for all the infants and 31 days (range, 18-66) for those that were discharged home. Factors associated with discharge from the hospital were female sex, higher gestational age, and absence of critical congenital heart defects. Median survival time was 13 days and was significantly longer for females compared with males. Our 1-month and 1-year survival rates were 31% and 3.9% respectively. Conclusion A significant proportion of infants with trisomy 18 were discharged home. These data are helpful in counseling parents of infants with trisomy 18.